Narrative:  The University of Texas (UT) System has degree-granting authority under Article VII, Section 10 of the Texas Constitution. [1] UT Arlington was given undergraduate degree-granting authority from the Texas Commission on Higher Education on April 20, 1959, and graduate degree-granting authority from the Coordinating Board, Texas College and University System (formerly the Texas Commission on Higher Education), in the fall of 1966.   University faculty are given degree-granting authority under Series 40101 of the UT System Board of Regents Rules and Regulations, which states that it is the “duty of the several institutional faculties to recommend approval or disapproval of all candidates for degrees. This duty may be delegated by affirmative vote of the institutional faculty, or its legislative body, to the respective deans or other appropriate official. Should this duty not be delegated, the institutional registrar, or his or her equivalent, shall furnish to the members of the institutional faculty a complete list of the degree candidates for recommendation.” [2]  University governance and administration are outlined in Texas Education Code, Sections 61.051, 65.11, 68.02, 68.06 and 65.31. Texas Education Code Section 61.051 states that “The board shall represent the highest authority in the state in matters of public higher education and is charged with the duty to take an active part in promoting quality education in the various regions of the state.” [3] Section 65.11 designates the Board of Regents as the governing body of the UT System. Under this section, the Board is to name, organize and govern the institutions and entities in The UT System in such a way as to “achieve the maximum operating efficiency of such institutions and entities…”  [4] Section 68.02 (September, 1971) affirms that UT Arlington is a baccalaureate and graduate-level coeducational institution of higher education within The University of Texas System that is governed by the Board of Regents of The University of Texas System. [5] Section 68.06 (November, 1971) of the Texas Education Code states the Board is authorized to “maintain, operate, and administer The University of Texas at Arlington as a general academic institution of higher education offering a standard four-year undergraduate program. The Board shall have the authority to prescribe courses leading to such customary degrees as are offered at leading American universities and to award such degrees. It is the intent of the legislature that such degrees shall include baccalaureate, master, and doctoral degrees and their equivalents; but no department, school, or degree program shall be instituted except with the prior approval of the Coordinating Board, Texas College and University System.” [6] Texas Education Code, Section 65.31 states that the Board is authorized to: (a) “govern, operate, support, and maintain each of the component institutions that are now or may hereafter be included in a part of The University of Texas System, (b) prescribe for each of the component institutions courses and programs leading to such degrees as are customarily offered in outstanding American universities, and to award all such degrees, (c) promulgate and enforce such other rules and regulations for the operation, control, and management of the university system and the component institutions thereof as the Board may deem either necessary or desirable, (d) make joint appointments in the component institutions under its governance, (e) administer gifts, grants, or donations of any kind, from any source, for use by the system or any of the component institutions of the system and (f) delegate a power or duty of the Board to a committee, officer, employee, or other agent of the Board.” [7]